the atlanta braves’ all-star selections are unique in mlb history
when the full all-star teams for mlb were announced, the news that eight (current*) atlanta braves would be in the all-star game delighted braves fans and infuriated much of the rest of twitter.
the news was notable for three big reasons:
- the eight selections from one team are tied for the most an nl team has ever sent to the all-star game. (the most sent ever is nine, by the yankees several times.)
- the entire infield going is only the third time that’s ever happened. of the previous two, one was voted in and the other was picked partly by the coach.
- an entire battery is going. this happens often enough. for example, it happened here and here. but it did not happen with the 2016 cubs or the 1963 cardinals.
this means this is the first time a team is sending eight players, including its entire infield and a battery, to the all-star game.
the lineup could eventually look like this:
c: sean murphy
1b: matt olson
2b: ozzie albies
3b: austin riley
ss: orlando arcia
cf: [whoever]
rf: ronald acuña jr.
lf: [whoever]
p: spencer strider, then bryce elder
imagining bryce coming in to relieve spencer is hilarious. we’d go from 100 mph fastballs to … not.
*former braves named include dansby swanson, freddie freeman, jorge soler and kenley jansen. i feel like a team of current or former braves could do well in the world series.